Taxonomy
Planchonella thiensis
Common name :
Azou blanc
Synonyms
Pouteria thiensis (Aubrév.) comb. ined.Red List Status -
Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 29/11/2019Protected species -
in Northern Province
Planchonella thiensis is an endemic tree of New Caledonia, where it has a scattered distribution across Grande Terre. It occurs in dense humid forest or shrubland on ultramafic substrate from 75 to 400 m asl. Some subpopulations may be impacted by habitat degradation by bushfires or mining activities, but globally this species does not seem to be threatened. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are estimated at 4,438 and 120 km², respectively, and the number of locations is estimated to be greater than ten. Therefore, P. thiensis is listed as Near Threatened (NT), close to Vulnerable under criteria B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v).
Geographical area
P. thiensis is endemic to New Caledonia, where it is has a scattered distribution on Grande Terre, in the great southern ultramafic massif and the northeast, in the Poindimié-Touho region.
Population
Population size is unknown.
Habitat
This tree grows in dense humid forest or sometimes shrubland on ultramafic substrate (serpentinites) from 75 to 400 m asl.
Threats
Some subpopulations could be impacted by bushfires or mining activities (Goro), but currently this species does not appear to be threatened. Nevertheless, it has probably been heavily impacted by the fragmentation of the dense humid forests in the southern ultramafic massif.
Conservation
P. thiensis is protected by legislation in Province Nord and occurs in several protected areas: Barrage de Yaté, Forêt Cachée, Pic du Pin, Pic du Grand Kaori and Forêt Nord natural reserves, as well as the Rivière Bleue provincial park. Prospection and collections are recommended to improve knowledge on the distribution and the conservation status of this species, which is suspected to be more widespread on Grande Terre.
Bibliography
Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Rouhan G., Bruy, D., Veillon J.-M., & M. Chalopin 2020. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia [continuously updated].
Aubréville A. 1967. Flore de la Nouvelle Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 01 : Sapotacées.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Barrault, J., Bruy, D., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Munzinger, J., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Swenson, U.
Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Meyer, S., Tanguy, V.